Exody - June 4th - Portsmouth, Annapolis, New York, Bristol, Newport

Exody completed ARC USA arriving in a grey and damp Portsmouth, Virginia two weeks ago today on Saturday May 21st.Motored most of the last 24 hours to beat the forecast deeper low.Portsmouth is well up the Elizabeth River, home to Uncle Sam's impressive naval fleet and the city of Norfolk across the water. Negotiating the busy shipping lanes that cross over at the entrance to the Chesapeake, we still had a few hours to go after passing over the 13 mile Chesapeake tunnel-bridge.The landscape was low and apparently bleak.Today June 4th we are anchored in a foggy Newport Rhode Island, which feels as busy a sailing venue as the Solent.It is Saturday so there were yacht and dinghy races aplenty and many elegant, classic, excursion sailing boats plying their trade.In the intervening fortnight. read more...

Exody - May 19th - Weather !

Gale force gusts and sustained winds in the upper 20's befell our small ARC USA fleet last night as a low passed through, preceded yesterday with torrential rain and heavy cloud virtually all day.Exody was careering along under double reefed main and less than a treble reefed genny. Nearly close hauled, the south south westerly wind fortunately allowed us to maintain our rhumb line.It was very wet and we found new leaks in our cabin ceiling.As usual the movement down below was relatively gentle and we both slept well on our off watches.However, with that low for a taster, we are now even more keen to make port 300 miles away at the mouth of the Chesapeake before Saturday when the next deeper low forms off Cape Hatteras! Early this morning, the skies cleared, the winds abated and veered. read more...

Exody - May 17th: Bound for the Chesapeake

It is midnight and the three quarter moon is filtering through the cloud cover - it's pattern just like an inverted rippled sand beach.The canopy masks the stars but an aircraft trail, straight as an arrow crosses, the sky and the moonlight reflects off the sea. One hundred miles out from Bermuda, Exody is goosewinging downwind rarely reaching five knots in less than ten knots of wind with a half knot adverse current.It seems too good a sail to spoil with the engine but too slow to reach port before a forecast weather system lands late Saturday!I am hanging my hopes on an imminent veer and increase in wind.Thirty six boats left St George's - thirty on ARC Europe for the Azores with a formal race start at 11.00, the other six in their own time on ARC USA. Pure Elegance and Viva left last. read more...

Exody - May 15th: Blowy in Bermuda

It's Sunday lunchtime - the torrential rain and blustery westerly winds are abating and we may get out to be tourists.We are one of a dozen boats rafted up choc-a-bloc in the St George's Town Dock. It is a picture postcard little town with quaint historic buildings, a town crier. All roofs here like ribbed icing on a cake- kept pristine as water collectors.We arrived two days ago, motoring in most of the last 100 miles.The narrow 'Town Cut' is big enough for cruise ships but felt constrained to us.Queued then tied up at the customs dock for straightforward clearance then a very short hop to the town dock.Soon discovered the well sorted Yacht Services facility with internet, cafes and quite the highest quality toilets we have seen anywhere.Sadly no showers but that's maybe because we can. read more...

Exody - May 12th: Gunning and Ghosting, Chill in the Air

It is 21.00 and the last of the sunset has not long disappeared, the moon now bright, the skies clear and the seas flat. Heard this before?Just 70 miles out from Bermuda, we are ghosting along at around four knots with the light south easterly breeze.Although progress is slow and we want to optimise our very short three night stopover in Bermuda, it seems a shame to 'gun' the engine and spoil the magical peace.We are feeling chilled having dug out and recharged our old ipods to deliver sweet music over dinner of Frittata! At the 09.00 daily radio net which Exody hosted this morning, we reported 20.5 hours motoring out of the previous 24, but the wind has since picked up allowing us to sail off and on today.Once again at daybreak, we had three boats in sight, Zython, Here & Now and. read more...